Can you boost your immunity with Zen?
Here we can experience an ancient Japanese Zen healing exercise from the Edo period called “Nanso.” Actually, it was Hakuin who developed this Zen practice.

Simply put, this Zen healing exercise is a form of introspective meditation using your imagination. Like a piece of butter on top of a pile of pancakes, imagine there’s a piece of butter on top of your head.

Imagine the nutrients and medicinal properties within that piece of butter. Then, as you think about the heat exuding from your body, imagine the butter slowly beginning to melt. It starts oozing down, gradually covering your whole body. As it flows down, your body becomes enveloped in a gentle warmth. Can you sense the healing powers of this exercise? This has been practiced since at least the Edo period, if not longer. Now, it’s your turn. Open your mind to your imagination, as you picture the piece of butter sitting on top of your head, slowly beginning to melt...

Let your imagination take over for about ten minutes as you slowly melt away with this exercise.